What is the best accounting software for a consulting firm?
A. The *best* accounting software is the one that fits the needs of the business. Not all consulting firms are operated the same way, but there are standards in the industry that should be included in the software. Since consulting is a service-oriented business, software that efficiently tracks time is important. The software should also produce *professional* invoices and group transactions by job/project. Programs to consider include QuickBooks Pro, Peachtree Complete Accounting for Windows Plus Time and Billing and Timeslips. Q. What’s the best accounting software for a retailer of computer hardware/software? A. Again, the *best* is the one that fits the needs of the business. Retail businesses, if they have a physical storefront will need a *point of sale* (POS) system that ties into the cash register and a bar coding system. If they have a *virtual* storefront, then POS is not necessary. Retail businesses also need good inventory features that include reorder levels and backorder
There are a huge number of accounting software titles to choose from and, particularly given the high cost of most of these titles, it’s a very good idea to shop around before you buy. The best title for a consulting firm could potentially be any that are available to buy, as software manufacturers target the general business market instead of specific niches. This is very likely due to the fact that the task of accounting tends to be similar in any sector. For this reason, it is important to understand how the individual titles work, the functionality they provide etc. The people/person using the software should also try to get hold of a trial version to see if it’s the right software for then – they’ll be the ones using it after all!
